It's been such a great summer for the cause of mercury-free dentistry. Therefore, I am happy to present the summer's top ten accomplishments (as is the current custom, in ascending order). Let me say I am proud of our great movement and the men and women who are part of it! The drum roll -- and here we go:

10) Ohio news conference continues momentum.

In front of several TV cameras, Representative Annie Key announces bill to ban mercury fillings for Ohio children and pregnant women, making Ohio the 8th state to have such a bill.

9) ADA wimps out in lawsuit against Khorrami.

Amidst great braggadocio, the ADA sued Shawn Khorrami, the nation's top anti-mercury lawyer for daring to say mercury fillings are dangerous for children. But the ADA was too timid to serve him, waiting four months until a reporter smoked them out. The ADA bigwigs don't want to face Shawn in court - they just want to talk about it.

8) State legislators across USA renew efforts against mercury fillings.

Assemblyman Dick Dickerson (R-Calif.) introduced a resolution against the FDA regulation (see (3), below). Representative Johnny Rogers (D-Ala.) promises major action in 2003, as do Rep. Bob Holmes (D-Ga.), Reps. Karen Johnson & Debra Brimhall (R-Ariz.), and Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Ill.) Sen. Mike Michaud (D-Me.) and Rep. Hal Lynde (R-N.H.) passed their bills this year. And there's more: Mike Michaud won his party's primary for the United States Congress, and could become the East Coast Diane Watson if he wins. You can find Mike at 213 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240.

7) Litigation against ADA marches forward.

Cases are now filed against the ADA in several states, including California, Maryland, and Georgia. The ADA and the state dental associations have lost every single motion they have made to dismiss the cases.

6) Burton, Watson to host Congressional hearings.

Folks, Congressman Dan Burton will soon be presiding over hearings on this issue, probably in early October. Congresswoman Diane Watson, a member of his committee, is assisting in preparing for this potentially momentous event.

5) Kelly Gallagher documentary on the brink.

This independent film-maker has chronicled the movement for the past two years, and is completing a movie about it.

4) "Dentist the Menace" report shows mercury's #1 source in wastewater is dental offices.

Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project, joined by the Sierra Club and Health Care Without Harm, unveiled a major report showing that the #1 cause of mercury in our wastewater is (but you already know this) dental offices. The report received major coverage in many of the nation's leading newspapers.

3) Consumers for Dental Choice organizes campaign against FDA rule.

The FDA is trying to cover up the risks of mercury fillings, and we are organizing the truth squad. Mary Ann Newell is receiving all submissions, to make sure the FDA hears from us. Submissions are due Sept. 16. Friends, this is a major -- a gargantuan, in fact - barrier to our movement. If you have not written the FDA, you must do so now. Address your concerns to the FDA, and e-mail them to Mary Ann Newell, Vancouver, Washington: BullElkMan@aol.com.

2) Dental Board Committee Chair Yokoyama proposes California recommend no mercury fillings for children, pregnant women.

The president of the new California dental board, Dr. Alan Kay, appointed Dr. Chet Yokoyama, a mercury-free dentist, to chair a committee to write a consumer-friendly "fact sheet" about the risks of mercury fillings. At the August meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Yokoyama proposed that the Board recommend that children and pregnant women not receive mercury fillings. He will hold hearings on this issue in November in Los Angeles.

1) NAACP national conference endorses ban for children, pregnant women.

In a historic breakthrough, the annual convention of delegates of one of our nation's oldest and most respected organizations endorsed the Watson-Burton bill, and called for a ban on mercury fillings for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Meanwhile, standing up to huge pressure from organized dentistry, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators stood firm on its resolution supporting Watson-Burton. To witness the leadership by African-American organizations in pointing the way - certainly something we have seen before in our recent history - is gratifying indeed.

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Tim Bolen
Consumer Advocate

This "Millions of Health Freedom Fighters - Newsletter" is about the battle between "Health and Medicine" on Planet Earth. Tim Bolen is an op/ed writer with extensive knowledge of the activities of a subversive organization calling itself the "quackbusters," and that organization's attempts to suppress, and discredit, any, and all health modalities that compete with the allopathic (MD) paradigm for consumer health dollars. The focus of the newsletter is on the ongoing activities, battles, politics, and the victories won by members of the "Health Freedom Movement" against the "quackbusters" It details "who the quackbusters are, what they are, where they are operating, when they appear, and how they operate - and how easy it is to beat them..."

For background information on the "Battle between Health and Medicine" go to: http://www.savedrclark.net/by_whom2.htm. A copy of THIS newsletter, and older ones, are viewable at the website http://www.quackpotwatch.org/default.htm